Englishman Jos Buttler lights up the IPL 2018 with trademark finesse

If the Indian Premier League needed a spark, some buzz and some finesse, then it was Englishman Jos Buttler, who upped the ante for the Rajasthan Royals. Several batsmen have come to fore this season. KL Rahul has shown class, Kane Williamson looks so pleasing to the eye, but its Buttler who gave us a new facet.

He started off in the middle-order and was soon opening the innings which proved to be the best decision Ajinkya Rahane took over as the skipper of Rajasthan Royals. For a team that looked jaded after those early losses, Buttler’s energy gave a new look to the side as they still stay in the hunt for the playoffs, even if the chances are low.

Yes, one will feel it did come at a time that put too much on RR’s plate and the loss against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens somewhat was a blow to their momentum. But the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman needs to be credited for playing in a tempo that defined the path for his team.

Buttler has flown back to England, but he left a lasting mark not only on his franchise but on the IPL. Early on he gave RR the platform and other batsmen a license to kill. Then he made sure RR won the games. The season has transpired so positively for him, that made the English selectors took note and suddenly he will be featuring in the whites against Pakistan next week at the Lord’s.

Let’s look at the many facets Jos Buttler provided in IPL 2018.

The moment Buttler came to the scene

It was RR’s away match at the Feroz Shah Kotla against the Daredevils when rain intervened and the DLS method came into play. RR then needed 151 off 72 deliveries. Till then Buttler was made to come in the middle-order and he never had the say his team would have liked. He was pretty must languishing there and the masterstroke came when he was asked to open against DD.

A 26-ball 67 got the visitors almost go past the line as fans were left on the edge of their seats. That was brutal from Buttler. Buttler grew new wings. RR did go on to lose the game by five runs, but Buttler savoured one of the best innings ever played at the Kotla.

The craft and madness followed

What followed after the 67 runs were sheer craft and bludgeoning of the bowlers. Scores of 51, 82, 95* and 94* followed before another quick-fire 22-ball 39 against KKR. What was extraordinary was the manner in which he came out every time to bat.

If on one side he went whirlwind and got those quick runs, his application against Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians were two brilliant innings that deserved all the plaudits. He single-handedly won those two back to back matches and paced his innings to perfection. What bodes well for RR was that he stayed unbeaten till the end and took his team home. In the last few matches, it was Buttler who scored more than half the runs for RR.

Innovation at its new best

The 28 runs off one over against Shivam Mavi (KKR) at the Eden Gardens showed why he is so innovative. Cheeky shot for sixes and feeding the ball to the ropes through the gaps was a trademark of Buttler. In each of his innings when he came as an opener, he was simply innovative and made the bowlers think rather than play similar shots.

The number game

Five successive half-centuries saw the versatile Buttler equal Virender Sehwag’s record in IPL. It was these five innings, that gave us a new glimpse of numbers. It helped him amass 389 runs in just 236 balls at a strike-rate of 164.83. Prior to the role atop; in seven outings in the middle order, he had scored 120 at a strike-rate of 126.31. See the change in runs and the shift of the strike-rate. 548 runs in 13 innings, it ended as Buttler’s best campaign in IPL.

52 fours and 21 sixes showed his capabilities as a boundary hitter.

What does he bring for England?

So will England play him as an opener in T20s from now on? This is a good headache for England management to have. They have the likes of Alex Hales, Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, but seeing Buttler strike the ball like this against quality bowlers, it may prompt them to tinker with their approach.

Buttler and Roy could be an ideal opening combination for England and skipper Eoin Morgan followed his progress closely. England’s assignment against India in July will give us an indication of what he could bring for the team.

But there is excitement all around. Prior to that is the Tests against Pakistan and his return to the red ball game is also something fans will be eager to see.

This piece is an opinion and reflects the views of the author and not the Crictracker entity.